South African company Armormax unveils TAC-6 6x6 vehicle built for French Special Forces.

On April 17, 2024, the South African company Armormax Defence, headquartered in Johannesburg, officially launched the TAC-6, a new 6x6 tactical vehicle designed to serve a variety of functions in both civilian and military applications. Initially developed for the French special forces, the vehicle has been refined to fulfill a wide range of roles, ranging from firefighting to weapon transportation.
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Built upon the proven Toyota Land Cruiser 79 series, the TAC-6 includes modifications such as the addition of a third axle to increase both its off-road capabilities and its payload capacity. (Picture source: Armormax)

Built upon the proven Toyota Land Cruiser 79 series, the TAC-6 includes significant modifications such as the addition of a third axle to increase both its off-road capabilities and its payload capacity to 4,400 kg. According to Armormax Defence, the TAC-6 is engineered to maintain reliability in demanding environments, with a gross vehicle mass now reaching seven tons.

Michael Broom, the head of sales and marketing at Armormax Defence, revealed that the development of the TAC-6 initially targeted the French Special Forces, a plan that was later adjusted after the French Special Forces' initial evaluation was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The project resumed later, with development funded entirely by Armormax, and the TAC-6 is now offered in single and double-cab configurations.

The TAC-6 has been subjected to extensive testing, covering over 250,000 kilometers across varied landscapes in Africa and Europe to assess its mobility and resilience. Armormax Defence reports that this evaluation process was designed to compare the TAC-6’s performance against existing full-sized 4-ton trucks. The testing protocol included a series of rigorous trials with the French Special Forces, aimed at pushing the vehicle to its operational limits. During these tests, the TAC-6 encountered only two failures, both attributed to operator error with overloaded and burnt clutches, not indicative of the vehicle's mechanical performance.

The TAC-6 has been engineered with military deployment in mind, including the capability to be transported in a standard 20-foot ISO shipping container, which facilitates easier and less conspicuous international deployment. Like the Chinese Dongfeng Mengshi CTL-181A or the Ukrainian Inguar-3, this design consideration allows the TAC-6 to offer a wide array of variants. This includes various turret-mounted weapons systems including 12.7mm, 14.5mm, 20mm, and 30mm calibers, 60mm and 81mm mortar systems, and configurations tailored for roles like personnel carrier, ammunition carrier, mechanical field workshop, small vehicle transport, logistical support, radar and drone platforms, and an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) launch platform.

In the domestic context, the TAC-6 is under consideration for the South African Special Forces who require a 6x6 Toyota Land Cruiser, a tender initially issued by Armscor but subsequently retracted with plans for reissuance. Furthermore, the South African National Defence Force is considering the TAC-6 for new border patrol vehicles, reflecting its potential utility for national security tasks.

Notably, the TAC-6 incorporates a hydraulic stabilizer that, when activated at speeds below 5 km/h, locks the axle to the chassis to minimize lateral pivoting movements caused by recoil from heavy-calibre weapons, enhancing firing stability for weapons such as 20 and 30 mm cannons. (Picture source: Armormax)

The TAC-6 has been equipped and tested with a variety of weapons systems. It has accommodated weapons like the Centauri 12.7 mm remotely operated weapon station and the To The Point International (TTPI) Gunslinger 12.7 mm manual turret. During testing phases in Europe, the French military installed 60 and 81 mm mortars and a 12.7 mm turret on the TAC-6. Preparing for future demonstrations, such as the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition, Armormax Defence is collaborating with a global supplier to fit and test an 81 mm mortar. Notably, the TAC-6 incorporates a hydraulic stabilizer that, when activated at speeds below 5 km/h, locks the axle to the chassis to minimize lateral pivoting movements caused by recoil from heavy-calibre weapons, enhancing firing stability for weapons such as 20 and 30 mm cannons.

In terms of protection, Armormax offers various armor packages for the TAC-6, including a STANAG Level I vehicle armor capable of withstanding shell fragments and bullets from 7.62 mm and 5.56 mm firearms. The vehicle incorporates lightweight armor and 40 mm ballistic glass that replaces the original window panes.

The TAC-6 features a transmission specifically designed for this vehicle, the ZF 8HP90 eight-speed automatic transmission, developed in collaboration between ZF in South Africa and Germany. It is intended to enhance performance in high gross vehicle mass (GVM) off-road conditions, replacing older manual transmissions. The vehicle’s transfer case is built with gear drives rather than chains and is made from aerospace-grade aluminum, which contributes to its structural integrity. Additionally, it uses DANA drive shafts and other standard OEM components, which facilitate easier field maintenance.

The TAC-6’s design incorporates a third axle, increasing its traction by 50% compared to traditional 4x4 vehicles. This feature allows the TAC-6 to excel in sandy terrains, providing unparalleled flotation and stability, which was highlighted during trials conducted by South African defense journalists. The vehicle's chassis includes strategically placed stiffeners that help enhance its stability, eliminating the need for heavy-duty anti-sway bars. Despite its length and the inclusion of a third axle, journalists said that the TAC-6 handles comparably to a large SUV, aided by features such as a built-in reverse camera that facilitates easier maneuvering.

On paved roads, the TAC-6's ZF 8HP90 eight-speed automatic transmission is said to enable efficient gear transitions, shifting from second to sixth gear instantly. The vehicle is powered by a 4.5-liter V8 engine, capable of reaching cruising speeds up to 120 km/h and a maximum speed of 160 km/h. The TAC-6 offers a ground clearance of 265 mm, with an approach angle of 40 degrees and a departure angle of 38 degrees. For its power output, the manual version delivers 202 hp at 3,400 RPM, while the automatic version produces 257 hp at the same RPM.

As Armormax Defence prepares for the Africa Aerospace and Defence show in September, the cost of the conversion of base for a manual gearbox starts at 1.5 million rands (USD 78,000), while armor options for STANAG level 1 start at 850,000 rands (USD 44,200) and a light and discreet armor set starts at 880,000 rands (USD 45,800) or 1.3 million rands (USD 67,600) for B4 and B6 armor levels respectively.